Money raised will go toward emergency food and aid LONDON: UK-based humanitarian charity Goodwill Caravan has hosted an iftar during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to raise funds for its emergency food and aid appeal for Gaza. More than £75,000 ($94,687) was raised from various activities throughout the evening, including general fundraising, an auction of Palestinian art, raffle draws, and stalls selling handicrafts, traditional clothes, jewelry and confectionery. The funds raised will also go toward supporting evacuees and those who have managed to escape the war into neighboring countries such as Egypt, where the charity has set up an emergency reception center. Hanan Ashegh, founder and executive director of Goodwill Caravan, told Arab News: “We’re focusing more on the Palestinians that have been evacuated outside of Palestine into Egypt and the ones that made it out across the border.” She added that the focus was to empower and help families arriving in Egypt who “don’t know where to go,” as this posed a huge problem for refugees. Goodwill Caravan, which was set up in 2015, covers global refugee and anti-trafficking protection projects in Greece and the UK, and is currently working to aid 120 families from Gaza, who are new arrivals at its Sallam Center in Egypt. The aim is to feed, shelter, reunify and support up to 5,000 families and destitute refugees this Ramadan, and provide them with all their immediate needs, Ashegh said. She added that more cash pledges were expected as donations increase in the last few days of the holy month. She explained that the initial plan was to have the Sallam Center operating for a year, but the charity hopes it will continue for longer.